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Spotting Scam Emails with ChatGPT

Posted by Greg

We’ve all had that moment: an email arrives in our inbox that looks a little… off.

Maybe the sender’s address doesn’t look quite right. Maybe the wording feels clumsy. Or maybe it includes an urgent warning that something terrible will happen if you don’t click a link immediately. These are all classic signs of scam, spam, or malware-laden emails—and falling for them can be costly.

This is where ChatGPT can be a surprisingly useful ally. By pasting the suspicious text of an email into ChatGPT, you can get a second opinion on whether it raises red flags. ChatGPT can help you break down the email’s language, tone, and structure, pointing out potential tricks scammers use, such as urgency, threats, fake authority, or too-good-to-be-true offers.

How ChatGPT Helps

ChatGPT isn’t a replacement for professional cybersecurity tools, but it can complement your existing vigilance. For example, if an email claims to be from your bank but is riddled with spelling mistakes, ChatGPT will highlight that this is unusual for official correspondence. If an email is pushing you to click a link or download an attachment urgently, ChatGPT can explain why that’s a common scam tactic.

By analyzing the text, ChatGPT can flag inconsistencies or manipulative language you might miss when quickly scanning an inbox. It’s like having a cyber-savvy friend on call to give you a calm, reasoned breakdown before you act.

Step-by-Step: Safely Checking a Suspect Email with ChatGPT

If you want to use ChatGPT to help analyze an email, here’s the safest way to do it:

  1. Open the email without clicking anything inside it.
    • Do not click links, download attachments, or press any buttons in the email.
    • You’re only going to look at the text.
  2. Highlight the text of the email.
    • With your mouse, click and drag to select the words of the email body.
    • You can usually skip the header details (like subject, date, etc.) unless they look suspicious too.
  3. Copy the text.
    • Right-click and select Copy, or use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + C on Windows, Command + C on Mac).
  4. Open ChatGPT.
    • Go to the ChatGPT app or website where you normally use it.
  5. Paste the text into the chat.
    • Right-click and choose Paste, or use Ctrl + V (Windows) / Command + V (Mac).
  6. Ask ChatGPT to analyze it.
    • A simple prompt works best, such as: “Can you check this email text and tell me if it looks like spam, a scam, or phishing?”
  7. Read the analysis carefully.
    • ChatGPT can point out suspicious language, tricks scammers use, or other warning signs.
    • Use this alongside your own judgment – if you’re in doubt, delete the email.

⚠️ Important Reminder: Never copy or upload attachments, images, or files from a suspicious email. Only copy the plain text.

Additional Safety Tips

While ChatGPT can help you spot scams, it works best when paired with common-sense safety practices:

Final Thoughts

Email scams are becoming more sophisticated, and staying safe requires a mix of technology and awareness. ChatGPT is a handy tool to help you analyze the language of questionable emails and give you more confidence in deciding whether to delete or report them.

But remember: your strongest defense is caution. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts. And above all, never click attachments or links in a suspicious email.

How to Keep Traffic Flowing Into Your Small Business Website

Posted by Greg

Now, you’ve built a website for your small business. Awesome.

It’s sitting there, looking rather lovely, and you’ve told your friends, your mum, and perhaps even the chap down at the bowls club about it. But here’s the snag: having a website is a bit like having a perfectly good kettle in the cupboard. Unless you actually plug it in and add water, it’s not going to make any tea.

What I mean, in less domestic terms, is that your website needs people visiting it, poking around, and perhaps—if all goes to plan—buying something or booking your service. The flow of visitors is called “traffic,” and much like real traffic, it needs a bit of management if it’s not going to grind to a halt. So, let’s go through a few straightforward ways to keep that digital road to your business nice and busy.

Keep the Road Signs Clear (Search Engines)

The first thing you need is decent signposting. On the motorway, you’ve got big green signs telling you where to turn off for Ayr or Ingham. On the internet, you’ve got Google. If Google can’t figure out what your site is about, it’s not going to send anyone your way.

So, make sure your site says what you do, in plain language. If you’re a plumber, don’t waffle on about “fluid dynamics solutions.” Just say “plumbing repairs and installations.” Add in your location too, because people are far more likely to type “plumber in Bowen” than “fluid dynamics consultant.”

Give People a Reason to Visit Again (Content)

Once someone has visited your site, you want them to come back. The trick here is content. That could be a blog, a set of how-to guides, or even a news section where you post updates about your business. Imagine your website as a shopfront: if the window display hasn’t changed in six months, passers-by will stop looking.

The content doesn’t need to be complicated. A short post once a month about something useful in your industry is more than enough. People will find it helpful, Google will like it, and your site won’t gather dust.

Keep the Conversation Going (Social Media)

Next up, tell people about your website. This is where social media comes in handy. A Facebook post or an Instagram story linking back to your website is the digital equivalent of standing outside your shop and waving people in. It doesn’t need to be flashy, but it does need to be regular.

Think of it as a polite nudge. “Hello, we’ve just posted something new on our website, do pop in and have a look.”

Don’t Forget the Repeat Customers (Email)

Finally, let’s not overlook the humble email. If someone’s given you their address, don’t abuse it with endless shouting about sales, but do use it to remind them you exist. A monthly email with a tip, an update, or a little offer is often all it takes.

Keeping traffic flowing to your website isn’t about clever tricks or expensive gadgets. It’s about being clear, being consistent, and gently reminding people that you’re there. Do that, and your website won’t be a dusty old kettle—it’ll be a well-used, well-loved tool that keeps business ticking over.

Microsoft Copilot – Great Tool, Shame About the Delivery

Posted by Greg

I’ve got nothing against Copilot.

CoPilot

It’s a clever little digital helper that can write emails, tidy up spreadsheets, summarise meetings, and probably do your tax return while you’re down at the pub. It’s the sort of thing we’ve all secretly wanted: an assistant that doesn’t complain about working late or “forget” to send the file. Lovely.

But here’s the problem. Microsoft hasn’t offered us Copilot. They’ve rammed it into our computers like a bad song on repeat. You wake up one morning, open Word to bash out a simple letter, and suddenly Copilot is hovering in the corner like an over-enthusiastic intern. “Would you like me to help with that?” No, I’d like you to go away while I type two paragraphs without interference, thank you very much.

It’s like being sold a car with “optional” heated seats, only to find they’ve welded the switch permanently to the dashboard, turned it on, and you can’t shut it off without voiding the warranty. Nice feature, but why does it have to be strapped to me at all times?

Now, don’t get me wrong – I’d love to give Copilot a proper go. I want to sit down, test it out, and see if it can actually improve my day or if it just generates the digital equivalent of a student essay written at 2am. But instead of giving me the chance to explore it on my own terms, Microsoft have gone for the “shock and awe” approach. Slam it into Office, Windows, Teams, Outlook – probably even Minesweeper by Christmas.

The result? It doesn’t feel like innovation. It feels like advertising. You’re not being invited to try a powerful tool; you’re being told you must. And nothing kills curiosity faster than being force-fed.

What Microsoft seem to forget is that technology is at its best when it feels like a discovery – when you find a new feature and think, ah, that’s useful. It’s why people loved the early iPhone. Hidden gems, clever touches, stuff that made you grin. With Copilot, it’s the opposite. You can’t stumble across it, because it’s already in your face before you’ve even logged in.

Imagine if you bought a new car where every time you opened the door, a salesman jumped out of the glovebox shouting about the new cupholder. You’d drive it off a cliff just to shut them up. That’s the Copilot experience right now.

So here’s my verdict: Copilot is not the villain. Just like ChatGPT – the concept is clever, the potential enormous. But Microsoft’s method of delivery is like being force-fed cold porridge while someone insists it’s the best breakfast you’ll ever have. Let us breathe. Let us explore. Stop shoving and start showing.

Because if they don’t, people won’t remember Copilot as the groundbreaking digital assistant it could be. They’ll remember it as that annoying thing that kept popping up when all you wanted to do was write a shopping list in Word.

Scams Are Getting Smarter: Watch Out for AI and Deepfakes

Posted by Greg

Remember the old scam emails?

The ones with bad spelling, weird phrases, and promises from a “Nigerian prince”? They were about as convincing as someone trying to sell you gold bars out of the boot of their car. Easy to laugh at, easy to spot.

Those days are over. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), scammers have just upgraded from cheap Halloween costumes to full-blown Hollywood special effects. And that means the rest of us have to be a bit sharper.

What’s Changed?

Scammers are no longer writing dodgy emails by hand. They’ve got AI doing the hard work. Imagine giving a scammer a magic typewriter that can copy anyone’s handwriting perfectly. That’s what they’ve got now.

Here’s what that means for small businesses:

How the Scams Work

So, when “your accountant” calls and says, “Pay this invoice right now,” it might not be them — it might be someone in a digital disguise.

What You Can Do

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a tech wizard. Think of it like running your shop — a few sensible habits keep out most trouble.

  1. Train your team – Teach them the same way you’d teach staff to spot fake $50 notes. Once they know what to look for, they’ll catch the dodgy stuff quicker.
  2. Double-check strange requests – If a customer gave you a cheque that looked a bit funny, you’d call the bank before accepting it, right? Do the same with emails or calls that ask for money or private info.
  3. Use two-step logins – It’s like putting two locks on your front door. Even if someone steals the first key (your password), they still can’t get in without the second.
  4. Limit access – Only give the keys to the safe (financial access, admin rights) to people who actually need them.
  5. Use security tools – Think of these as security cameras for your inbox. They can flag emails or messages that don’t quite smell right.

Scammers have moved from clumsy con artists to slick stage magicians. They can make you see and hear things that aren’t real.

But like any good magic trick, once you know what’s going on, it loses its power. Slow down, double-check, and don’t be afraid to say, “Hang on, I’ll call you back to confirm.”

A little caution now could save your business from falling for a very expensive illusion.

5 Things Every Small Business Website Owner Should Know

Posted by Greg

Owning a business website is a bit like owning a car.

Leave it alone long enough and something will inevitably break, rattle, or burst into flames at the exact moment you need it most. The trouble is, while you can usually hear your car when it starts coughing and spluttering, websites tend to just… die silently while your customers quietly sneak off to your competitor.

So, if you want your site to actually work for you instead of sitting online like a badly painted shop sign from 1973, here are five things you need to know.

Lock the Doors (a.k.a. Security & Backups)

Imagine leaving your shop open overnight with a sign saying Cash in the till, help yourself. That’s what skipping website security is like. At the very least, get an SSL certificate (the little padlock that says I’m not dodgy), use proper passwords – not Password123 – and update your software before the hackers do it for you.

And for heavens sake, back up your site. Otherwise, when it crashes, youll be on the phone screaming, But all my stuff was on there! and nobody will care.

SEO: Its Not Black Magic

SEO – sounds like something whispered about in dark corners by men with pointy hats. In reality, its just making sure Google knows you exist. That means using words people actually type in (coffee beans Townsville), writing proper titles, and making sure your site doesn’t take longer to load than dial-up internet in 1995.

Get this right, and customers will find you. Get it wrong, and you’ll be buried on page five of Google next to Bigfoot sightings and UFO forums.

Don’t Make It Annoying (User Experience)

If your website is confusing, slow, or looks like it was designed on Windows 98, people wont hang around. Theyll just leave. Instantly.

A good site is simple: buttons that say Buy Now or Call Us, menus that dont require a treasure map, and a layout that works on phones. Remember, most people are browsing while holding a sandwich in one hand and their phone in the other. If they have to zoom, swipe, or guess where your contact details are – youve lost them.

Content: Stop Sounding Like a Robot

Nobody wants to read a website that sounds like it was written by a bored accountant. Your content should sound like you. Tell your story, show your personality, and, for crying out loud, avoid jargon like solutions or leveraging synergies. Customers want to know who you are, not sit through a corporate PowerPoint.

And yes, blogs help too. Write tips, share stories, answer questions. It keeps people interested and keeps Google happy.

Check the Dashboard (Analytics)

Running a website without analytics is like driving a car without a speedometer. You might think youre doing 100 km/h, but in reality, youre crawling along while everyone else overtakes you.

Use tools like Google Analytics to see whos visiting, what theyre looking at, and whether theyre actually buying or just window-shopping. Data doesnt lie. If nobodys clicking Contact Us, maybe its because your form is hidden under six dropdown menus and a slideshow of stock photos.

A small business website is supposed to make life easier. But if you ignore security, skip SEO, design it like a labyrinth, fill it with corporate gobbledygook, and never measure a thing – you may as well print your web address on the back of a beer coaster and hope for the best.

Hyper-Personalizing Your Website: Simple Tweaks to Boost Engagement

Posted by Greg

Let’s get one thing straight – your website is not a fridge.

People don’t just open it, stare blankly, and hope inspiration strikes. Well… actually, some do. But unlike a fridge, if your site serves up the exact same bland content to everyone, they’ll close it faster than you can say “lukewarm leftovers.”

That’s where hyper-personalisation comes in. It’s the online equivalent of a barista remembering your name, your order, and the fact that you like your latte hot enough to cauterise a wound. Done right, it makes visitors think, “Ah, this place gets me.” Done wrong, and you’ll look like that over-friendly shop assistant who asks about your weekend when you just want to buy socks.

1. Location, Location, Location

No, you don’t need to stalk your visitors like MI6. But if someone from Cairns lands on your site in January, don’t show them a banner for your winter woollies sale. They’re busy trying not to melt.

How to do it:

2. Time of Day Tweaks

If someone visits at 8am, they’re in a very different mood than if they arrive at 11pm. Mornings are for coffee, productivity, and pretending to read emails. Nights are for winding down, impulse shopping, and googling “how to build a pizza oven.”

How to do it:

3. Call Them By Name (Without Being Creepy)

If someone has signed up or logged in, you know their name. Use it. “Welcome back, Dave” sounds friendlier than “Hello, random internet human.”

How to do it:

4. Tailored Recommendations

Netflix does it. Amazon does it. Even that suspicious ad that knows you were thinking about buying a kayak does it. You can too.

How to do it:

5. Test, Measure, Repeat

Personalisation isn’t a “set and forget” trick. It’s more like tuning a race car – a little tweak here, a little adjustment there, until it runs beautifully.

How to do it:

Hyper-personalising your site isn’t about making it a creepy psychic. It’s about giving people the right thing at the right time. Nail that, and they’ll stick around, click more, and probably spend more. Or, to put it in Clarkson-speak: stop serving everyone the same lukewarm beans – give them exactly what they want, piping hot, with a side of “blimey, they really get me.”

Your Website Should Work While You’re at the Pub

Posted by Greg

If it needs you constantly, it’s not a website—it’s a needy child.

Let me paint you a picture.

You’ve finally got a day off. The sun’s out. The fridge is full. You’re about to pour a drink when ping!—your phone lights up. Someone wants to know your opening hours. Again. Another email asking for a quote. And some lunatic is trying to order a thing you don’t even stock anymore.

Sound familiar? Then, dear reader, your website is not doing its job.

A proper website—one that’s worth its pixels—should run without you. Like a well-trained sheepdog or an automatic coffee machine. You set it up, you fine-tune it, and then you get out of its way.

Here’s how you build a website that keeps working while you’re fishing, sleeping, or screaming at the NBN.

1. Say the Obvious Stuff… Out Loud

People shouldn’t have to ring you to ask what time you open. Or what you sell. Or where on earth you are. That’s what your website is for. Stick your hours, prices, location, and services right up front, plain as day.

If your site hides basic info behind seventeen clicks and a riddle, people won’t bother. They’ll leave. Probably while calling you rude names.

2. Automate Like You’re Lazy (Because You Should Be)

Set up online bookings. Let people order products. Make payments easy. Use forms that actually send the email. If your website can’t take care of business while you’re at lunch, what’s the point?

It’s 2025. Your customers expect to do things online. If your site still says “Call us to book,” you might as well be chiselling messages into stone.

3. Design for Humans. Not Robots.

Nobody wants to scroll through a digital jungle to find your phone number. Keep it clean. Keep it simple. Make the buttons big enough for human thumbs.

And please, test it on your phone. Because everyone is on their phone. Except your uncle Gary. But he still thinks fax is a thing.

4. Shout Your Call to Action

Want them to book? Buy? Download? Say so. Clearly. Not in some whispery, passive-aggressive “learn more” nonsense. Be bold. Be bossy. Your website is not a polite suggestion—it’s a salesperson in a suit who doesn’t stop talking until the job’s done.

5. Sell While You Sleep

An online shop doesn’t take breaks. It doesn’t get COVID. It doesn’t throw sickies. It just sells, 24/7. If you’ve got things people can buy or book online, set it up. Now. Stop waiting for perfect. Perfect is the enemy of “making money while you’re snoring.”

If your website needs constant hand-holding, it’s broken. Full stop. Your website should be the team member that never calls in sick, never needs a coffee break, and never—ever—asks stupid questions.

Fix it once. Let it run. And get back to doing what you do best. Like enjoying your weekend.

And if you need help? Well. That’s what we’re here for.

The Digital Rug Pull: How Social Media Can Destroy Your Business Overnight

Posted by Greg

Let’s get something out of the way before the avocado-toast crowd starts waving their phones at me.

Social media is useful. There, I said it. It can be brilliant for visibility, engagement, and the occasional ego boost when someone shares your latest “special offer” with a thumbs up and a heart emoji.

But – and this is a big but – if you’re relying solely on social media to drive people to your business, you’re basically building your empire on someone else’s land. And that land is owned by Silicon Valley behemoths who wouldn’t notice if you vanished into the digital abyss tomorrow.

You’re Not the Customer. You’re the Product.

Let’s talk Meta. Or Facebook, as it used to be called before it tried to sound like a villain from a Marvel movie. You’ve probably got a business page there, and maybe even an Instagram account with carefully curated photos of your handmade soy candles or your artisan beef jerky.

But here’s the thing – you don’t own any of it.

Your page? That’s just a squatter’s tent on Zuckerberg’s lawn. And he can kick you off any time he pleases. No warning. No explanation. One day you’re posting about your new stock, and the next? “Your account has been suspended for violating community guidelines.” What guidelines? Who knows. They won’t tell you. They won’t talk to you. They won’t even acknowledge your existence.

Need help? Tough. Meta doesn’t have customer service. It has forums. You know, the place where desperate people shout into the void hoping someone with a keyboard and a caffeine addiction might offer a clue.

Google? Same Circus, Different Clowns.

Google is just as bad. You could have a slick Google Business listing, glowing reviews, and even show up on Maps. But again – it’s not yours. If they decide to change the algorithm or roll out some update with a name like “Possum” or “Moose” or “Giraffe in a Hat,” your visibility could vanish overnight.

And again, there’s no one to call. No email. No human. Just forms, AI bots, and a lovely message that says, “Thank you for your feedback” – which, translated, means “bugger off – we don’t care.”

Take the Reins: Get a Website.

This is why, if you’ve got any sense whatsoever, you need your own website. Your domain. Your hosting. Your rules.

A website is your digital home – not a tent in someone else’s garden. You control the content, the branding, the messaging, and most importantly, the customer journey. It’s where people can buy your stuff, book your services, or just find out what you actually do, without being distracted by dancing cats and someone’s lunch.

Better yet, it’s where you can build credibility. Nothing says “I’m a proper business” like a well-built site with a clear call to action and contact details that don’t involve sending a DM into the abyss.

Social Media Should Support – Not Replace – Your Website.

Use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok – whatever – but use them to feed people into your website. That’s the mothership. That’s where the sales happen. That’s where you build trust, answer questions, and own the experience.

Social media is a tool, not a foundation. Rely on it alone, and you’re one algorithm tweak away from digital oblivion.

Final Thought

If you wouldn’t run a shop without owning the building, don’t run your business without owning your digital space.

Because when the social media giants change the rules – and they will – the only safe bet is to have a place of your own.

And no, Zuckerberg isn’t invited.

Want help building that rock-solid digital base? Let’s talk websites – the kind you own.

Your Website Might Look Great – But It’s Useless Without This

Posted by Greg

Let me ask you something.

Have you ever walked into a shop, ready to throw money at something you don’t need, only to find not a single person behind the counter?

No signs. No help. Nothing. You’d probably walk out. Fast.

That’s exactly what it feels like when your website doesn’t have a Call to Action.

What is a Call to Action?

In plain English, it’s the flashing neon sign that screams, “DO SOMETHING!” It could be a ‘Get a Quote’ button. A ‘Buy Now’ link. A ‘Book a Free Consult’ badge. It’s the bit that turns a passive browser into a customer, a lead, or at the very least, a name on your email list.

It’s not optional. It’s not decorative. It’s what gives your website a pulse.

But Why Do I Need One?

Simple. Because the whole point of your website isn’t to just sit there looking pretty – it’s to do something. Sell a product. Get a booking. Build a subscriber list. Whatever the end goal is, you’re not going to get there with vague copy and a contact page buried deeper than Pharaoh’s tomb.

People don’t have time to dig. We live in a world where if your site doesn’t grab attention in under ten seconds, the visitor’s already back on Google finding someone else who does know what they want them to do.

So ask yourself:

What do I actually want visitors to do on my site? Can they do it in one click? Is it obvious?

If the answer to any of those is “Um…” then no, your website is not doing its job.

Where Should I Put It?

Front and centre. Slap bang at the top. Above the fold. Think of your Call to Action like your best employee – it should be greeting people the second they arrive.

And here’s the kicker: it needs to follow them around. In 2025, we’re no longer limited to static banners. We’ve got sticky buttons, floating menus, mobile-optimised popups, and slide-ins that politely (or not-so-politely) ask for attention. And they work. If someone scrolls halfway down your homepage without seeing how to contact you, that’s a design fail, not a customer issue.

Put your CTA where their eyes are – top right on desktop, centre screen on mobile, and everywhere in between.

Final Thought

Do me a favour. Open your website right now. Pretend you’re not you – you’re someone who’s never heard of your business. Does the site clearly, unambiguously tell you what to do next?

If not, congratulations – you’ve just found your next five-minute fix that could double your leads. Now go fix it. And make it obvious.

ChatGPT: Not Just a Chatbot

Posted by Greg

Let’s clear something up straight away.

When people say ChatGPT, most think of a glorified Siri — something that rattles off facts or tells you what the capital of Peru is. But if you’re a small business owner and you’re still treating ChatGPT like a party trick, you’re missing out on what is possibly the most useful bit of tech since email.

This isn’t just some chatbot with clever small talk. This is a full-blown digital Swiss Army knife, and if you’re running a business on your own (or close to it), this thing can be the difference between staying up late trying to write your “About Us” page — or being done before your coffee goes cold.

Let’s get into it.

It Writes the Words So You Don’t Have To

You know that feeling when you should be updating your Facebook page or writing a newsletter, but instead you’re checking the fridge for inspiration? ChatGPT doesn’t get writer’s block. Give it a rough idea — “write a product description for our new tropical fruit soap” — and boom, it’s done. And not in a generic, beige way either. It can write in your tone, your style, and even throw in a bit of cheek if that’s your thing.

It’s like hiring a copywriter who doesn’t take lunch breaks and never replies with “just circling back on this.”

It Handles the Boring Bits

Policies. Emails. Bios. Refund instructions. These are the jobs we all dread, and guess what — ChatGPT lives for it. Want a neat, polite response to a grumpy customer who didn’t read your shipping times? Done. Need a returns policy that sounds like it came from a law firm but doesn’t send people to sleep? Easy.

Instead of starting with a blank page, you start with a draft that’s 90% of the way there. Tweak it, brand it, post it — done.

It Thinks Before You’ve Had Time to Panic

You don’t always have a marketing team or a room full of experts. Sometimes it’s just you, and the internet, and a vague sense you should be doing something. Ask ChatGPT. “What’s a good promotion for EOFY?” “What’s a better headline for this flyer?” “What’s the difference between a landing page and a home page, and do I need both?”

It’ll answer — clearly, and without a trace of condescension — and if you want, it’ll follow up with examples, checklists, or even a step-by-step plan.

So What’s the Catch?

None, really — other than the fact you have to get used to using it. ChatGPT isn’t going to run your business. But it will help you run it better, faster, and with fewer headaches. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a genuinely useful tool for anyone juggling too many jobs at once — which, let’s be honest, is pretty much every small business owner ever.

If you’re not already using it, you should be. And if you don’t know where to start, we’re happy to show you.

Tropical Coast Web Design